Michael Brissenden presents AM Monday to Friday from 8:00am on ABC Local Radio and 7:10am on Radio National. Join Elizabeth Jackson for the Saturday edition at 8am on Local Radio and 7am on Radio National.

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Friday 20 January 2006

AM is Australia's most informative morning current affairs. It covers the stories each morning that the other current affairs teams follow for the rest of the day. Below is the program summary with links to transcripts and audio (if available).

Expectation Senator Hill about to retire from politics

After two and a half decades in Federal politics, it seems Defence Minister, Robert Hill, is about to call it quits. His colleagues expect he will announce as early as today that he will retire from Parliament. The Minister won't comment on his future, but Senator Hill flew into Canberra last night, heightening speculation of an imminent announcement. Many of his Liberal colleagues believe he has decided to turn his back on politics and become an ambassador. And in South Australia, where he's a Senator, the scrambling has begun to find a replacement.

Minchin keeps quiet on future of Senator Hill

The man who stands to become the leader of the Government in the Senate if Robert Hill resigns was being coy this morning when asked about a possible reshuffle. As we've heard, Nick Minchin is also seen as one of the favoured candidates to replace Senator Hill as Defence Minister, if his fellow South Australian decides to take up the job of Australia's ambassador to the UN.

Schapelle Corby has 20-year prison term reinstated

In Bali, and Schapelle Corby's legal team had been hoping for an even shorter sentence, perhaps even an acquittal, but the outcome couldn't have been any worse for the convicted drug smuggler from the Gold Coast. Three judges from the Indonesian Supreme Court have overturned an appeal decision last year to cut her sentence to 15 years, and they've reinstated the original 20-year term. Corby has been sitting in a Bali jail ever since more than four kilograms of marijuana were found in her bodyboard bag when she arrived at Denpasar Airport in October of 2004.

Corby's half brother in jail facing drugs charges

There's been another blow for the Corby family. Schapelle Corby's younger half brother is also in jail today facing drugs charges. 18-year-old James Kisina was standing alongside Corby when she was confronted by Customs officers at the Bali airport. Now he's now been arrested in Brisbane, accused of producing and possessing drugs, and also of being involved in a home invasion.

Bin Laden threatens US with more attacks

After a year of silence, al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is warning that more terrorist attacks are being planned against the United States. The statement is contained in an audiotape, which also makes vague reference to a "truce" with the US. The CIA has confirmed the tape is authentic. The President, George W. Bush, hasn't publicly responded, but the White House has already rejected the truce offer.

UK Govt coy on illegal practice of 'rendition'

A leaked memo in Britain shows the Government there does not know whether terrorism suspects are being flown through the country in secret CIA planes to be tortured elsewhere. The advice to Prime Minister Tony Blair says the practice, known as extraordinary rendition, is illegal, but the public service would rather not talk about whether British airports are being used. The head of the British inquiry into rendition has told AM, the Government is deliberately ignoring illegal acts of torture, and may be provoking home grown terrorist attacks.

New Horizons takes off towards Pluto

After several delays on the launch pad, NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto is at last on its way. But this billion-dollar quest by the unmanned probe is going to test the patience of those heading up the US space program. The one-way journey to the icy ninth planet will take almost a decade to travel the five-billion kilometres.

Three possible candidates to replace former WA premier

With Western Australia still reeling from the shock resignation of Premier Geoff Gallop, the questions of who will become the State's next leader is hotting up. The State Development Minister, Alan Carpenter, and the Police Minister, Michelle Roberts, have both declared they want the top job, while the Attorney General, Jim McGinty, is believed to be privately assessing his chances.

Papuan asylum seekers moved to Christmas Island

The Immigration Department has come in for criticism for moving 43 West Papuan asylum seekers from the Australian mainland to far-off Christmas Island. The group arrived on Cape York by boat earlier this week from the Indonesian province of Papua. Some are believed to be independence activists. Last night the Government used an RAAF Hercules to fly them the seven hours across the continent to the Indian Ocean island. Opponents say the move is aimed at avoiding media and public scrutiny.

Heart of Phar Lap too fragile to leave Australia

Phar Lap might have been born across the Tasman, but it seems his heart will always remain in Australia. Plans to have the 70-year-old preserved organ sent to New Zealand have been abandoned because the abnormally large heart is too fragile. It was due to be sent to Wellington this year to go on short-term display with its skeleton.